hey go ahead and throw some up here. i've never been to chicago and i like to use a lot of "alone time" on my vacations to scope museums and hide dead hookers.

isn't this what ferris beuller is for?

art institute of chicago (tuesdays are free!)
museum of science & industry (bodyworlds is pretty boss)
buckingham fountain (excellent for drowning hookers)
harold washington library center (excellent for hiding dead hookers)

i'm sure someone who's lived here longer can add much more.

Get yourself into Wrigley if the Cubs are at home and you can afford it.

If you're into shopping hit Michigan Ave, but there is absolutely no reason to if you aren't into consuming. Though, I'd recommend the 95th floor of the Hancock building for a drink or two, which is on Michigan Ave. Excellent view. North Ave. or Oak St. beach are pretty impressive scenery sites if it's a nice day. College girls!

Yeah, i guess i'm now committed to this whole lolla-fiasco. If I get in Friday afternoon and can only get to one museum (as opposed to Boston, for example, where I took like 1 1/2 days to visit museums/roam about in addition to my mongering) which should I go to?

Good thread Chase. I gotta make the most of this shit as opposed to the "where will Phil be meeting me when I get off the plane for drinks?" thread

Ohhh, look at Chris trying to sound all cultural and whatnot. He'll be lookin' for that "where do I meet for drinks" thread later -- you just wait!

one of the best things you can do in chicago is to rent a bike and ride the lakefront bike path. you can go as far north as foster (farther north if you'd like) and ride south to the south shore cultural center and you will see a complete spectrum of people, cultures, activities with the gorgeous lake and city beaches as a backdrop. i still love doing this.

this of course takes time.

you should visit hyde park and the univ of chicago and if you're into architecture go to oak park and do the frank lloyd wright studio tour. plus there's also great architecture in that area to check out. todd can tell you the best places to eat there.

there's tons of stuff to do there. have fun.
i am so jealous.

yeah i was going to say this. it's a great ride

And I just did this yesterday and for some reason it totally slipped my mind. I'm a bike snob as well as a music snob, so rental bikes just plain suck. This is an excellent idea though. Again, college girls!

surely we can do better than this.

You can go to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Be sure to ask them where to find the elephants.

there's a nice men's club at 26th & california.

Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College: http://www.mocp.org/

Bars:
Gingerman: http://centerstage.net/bars/ginger-man.html. few doors down from Metro and a block from Wrigley.
Shuba's: http://www.schubas.com/
Map Room: http://www.maproom.com/

enjoy. I've been twice this year. It's a beautiful town.

go to the site of the H.H. Holmes house. Is that what you wanted to hear?

my alma mater but i'm not sure i should admit that.

Nice.